Tattoo Aftercare guide

Written By Apollo Tattoo Studios .

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A NEW TATTOO

Congratulations on your new tattoo! Your artist got you this far, but now it’s your turn to do the work. Proper aftercare techniques are crucial to ensuring your tattoo heals safely, and looks great for the years to come. Healthy aftercare has changed a lot in the past 20 years, and there’s a lot of different information out there. So we’ve made it easy for you and gathered the most up to date recommendations for how to heal and take care of your new tattoo.

This is a quick guide on what you should/shouldn’t be doing to care for your tattoo. For a more in depth look at the process, with a step by step daily guide, check out our other article here ( coming soon). Let’s get into it. 


KEEP YOUR TATTOO CLEAN

Why?

The most important way to protect your new tattoo is to keep it clean. Regular washing prevents germs, dirt, and other microorganisms from entering into your body, resulting in irritation, or at worst infection. You just got your skin stabbed thousands of times, and have thousands of small cuts opening up your body to the world around you. Frequent washing minimizes your risk of infection.

How?

First, wash your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap. You should always ensure your hands are clean before touching a fresh tattoo. Using warm water, gently rinse and clean the area with an antibacterial fragrance-free soap. We recommend gently moving your fingers in circular motions to thoroughly clean the area. It’s important not to scrub or scratch your tattoo when cleaning. Rinse the area to ensure all the soap is gone. You must wait until the water dries completely before moving to the next step. Do not use a towel to dry as some fibers may get stuck in your tattoo and irritate it. Let your skin air dry for a few minutes. Once it’s fully dry, it’s time for step two.

Quick GUide

  • only use non-scented antibacterial soap

  • wash your hands first

  • air dry your tattoo

  • wash 2-3 times daily

  • use liquid soap over bar soap

  • don’t scratch it

    recommended products

  • Liquid Dial Gold

  • Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Baby Soap

  • Safeguard Antibacterial Soap

KEEP YOUR TATTOO MOISTURIZED

Why?

Keeping your tattoo moisturized can reduce healing time, and helps to prevent scarring. Think about how much your body moves throughout the day. You are constantly stretching and twisting your skin, and the tattoo is moving with you. When your skin bends, the open areas of your tattoo are rubbing together. Keeping your tattoo moisturized helps to reduce the amount of friction and ripping that naturally occurs with body movement. Think of when you get a scab! The more you pick at it, the longer it will take to heal. The same concept applies here. The more friction in your tattoo, the more its ripping and re-openning a healing wound.

How?

It’s important to note that you should never put lotion on your tattoo without washing it first as you don’t want to trap germs under the lotion. Once your tattoo is clean and dry, you’re good to go ahead to put a thin layer of a non-scented, non-petrolium based lotion. Ointments like Neosporin and AnD are not recommendded because the petroleum jelly tends to sit on top of the skin, and can trap unwanted moisture inside. The goal is for the lotion to be absorbed into the skin. A little goes a long way! If you can see the lotion clumping on top of your tattoo, you put too much. You only need a thin layer of lotion for your tattoo to be properly moisturized.

QUICK GUIDE

  • wait until tattoo is fully dry

  • use non-scented lotion

  • apply after washing

  • avoid petroleum based products

  • use small amounts

    recommended products

  • Lubriderm

  • Cocoa Butter

  • CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion

How often should I do this?

You want to clean and moisturize your tattoo 2-3 times a day for at least the first month after you get your tattoo. There’s no one size fits all for how long it will take for your tattoo to heal. Things like the location of the tattoo, the size, complexity, and your own health can all influence the healing timeline. It usually takes 2-4 weeks for the outer layer of your skin to heal, and up to 6 months for all layers of the skin to fully heal.

What NOT to do while my tattoo is healing?

  • Don’t submerge your tattoo underwater while it is healing. You are opening the door for all kinds of germs to be absorbed into the skin, leading to infection. This includes things like the beach, pools, and baths.

  • Avoid long sun exposure. The tattoo will be more suspetible to sunburns which can cause fading and improper healing.

  • Never touch your tattoo without washing your hands first, and only touch it when you are cleaning.

  • Avoid itching or scratching your tattoo while its healing, this can rip open the skin and cause scarring.

My tattoo is fully healed, now what?

It’s possible with larger tattoos, or tattoos in a particularly bendy area of the body to experience some fading. Most artists offer free touch-ups if this happens. If you plan on being in the sun for an extend peroid of time, it’s always a good idea to cover your tattoo with sunscreen. Just make sure you don’t use sunscreen while your tattoo is an open wound, as the chemicals will burn and irritate the skin. Send a healed picture of your tattoo to your artist! We only get to see the tattoo fresh, and love getting healed pictures.

If you have any questions always reach out to your artist.

Note: This is not advice from a medical professional, for medical emergencies or advice contact your primary care physician.

Apollo Tattoo Studios .